Device for lifting and transporting roof decking



P 20, 1966 c. P. BRAHM ETAL 3,273,731

DEVICE FOR LIFTING AND TRANSPORTING ROOF DECKING Filed March 10, 1964 2heets-Shee 1 Ema/ m Sept. 20, 1966 c. P. BRAHM ETAL 3,273,731

DEVICE FOR LIFTING AND TRANSPORTING ROOF DECKING Filed March 10, 1964 2Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,273,731 DEVICE FOR LIFTING ANDTRANSPORTING ROOF DECKING Clarence P. Brahm, 5000 N. 132 St., and AlfredK. Jensen, 5001 N. 132 St., both of Butler, Wis. Filed Mar. 10, 1964,Ser. No. 350,745 Claims. (Cl. 214-390) This invention pertains to alifting and transporting device and more particularly to a device forlifting stacks of roof decking and moving them about on a building rooftI'LISSi In building construction, after the building superstructureincluding the roof trusses have been erected, the roof decking isusually assembled to the surface of the trusses or the roof beams. inglengths and twenty foot sections would not be unusual. An average widthis about eighteen inches. The individual dec k sections span two or moreparallel beams depending on the length of the decking. To facilitateapplication of the decking, stacks are placed on the roof beams by meansof cranes at difierent strategic locations about the building. Each ofthese stacks of decking Weighs approximately one thousand pounds.

The workmen or roofers must then position the individual deck sectionson the beams. Because of the size and weight of each deck section, it.is usually only possi-ble for a team, which consists of two men, tocarry one deck section from the stack at a time. The first deck sectionis laid adjacent to the stack and each successive section is laidprogressively further from the stack so the roofers can walk on thedecking as it is laid. The stacks themselves are too heavy to be movedand, therefore, the workmen must retrace their steps back to the stackeach time a new deck section is laid. This not only is time consumingsaid, therefore, more expensive, but is tiresome for the workmen.

With the device of this invention, it is not necessary for the workmento retract their steps or to carry the deck sections any appreciabledistance. -It is, therefore, a general object of this invention toprovide a device which can be easily passed beneath the deck stacks andwhich will lift and transport the stacks along the building beams.

Another object of the subject invention is to provide a device of thehereinbefore described type with wheels which permit the workmen to rollthe deck stacks along the roof beams.

Another object of the subject invention is to provide a device of thehereinbefore described type which is portable and can be installed andused by one person.

These and other objects of the subject invention will become more fullyapparent as the following description is read in light of the attacheddrawings, wherein:

'FIG. 1 is a side view of one wheel assembly of the device on a rooftruss with the supporting portion of the device exending beneath a stackof decking;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the device with one wheel assenrbiy in the loadsupporting position and the other wheel assembly in a load raisingposition;

FIG. 3 is a top view of two devices of the subject invention shown inoperative position; and

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of one of the wheel assemblies of the deviceof the subject invention.

Referring to the drawings, the building includes a plurality of spacedparallel roof trusses 6 which may be constructed in any conventionalmanner and which include a flat surface or beam 7 to which the roofdecking is attached. The trusses are spaced apart as shown in FIG. 3.The spacing between adjacent trusses is dependent on the load which thetrusses must support. As previously explained, the decking is placed atstrategic locations Roof decking comes in vary- 3,273,731 Patented Sept.20, 1966 on the trusses by a crane in the form of bundles or stacksgenerally designated 8.

The device of the subject invention is composed of two substantiallyidentical wheel assemblies generally designated 9 and '11. Since bothwheel assemblies 9 and 11 are substantialy identical, similar referencecharacters will be used to identify identical elements in each and onlythe different characteristics will be pointed out as they apply to eachindividual wheel assembly. Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 4, awheel 12 may be provided with annular flanges or disks 13 at each sidethereof. These flanges are spaced apart a distance substantially equalto the width of the truss beam 7 and are of a slightly larger diameterthan the diameter of the wheel.

The wheel '12 is rotatably connected to a wheel carriage generallydesignated 14. The carriage may be constructed in any conventionalmanner and is herein shown as including a pair of spaced plates 16 and17 rigidly connected together in any conventional manner such as bywelding straps 18 and 19 to each plate. The axle- 21 of the wheel -12may be connected to the carriage 14 in any conventional manner and it isnot important whether the wheel revolves relative to the axle or whetherthe axle revolves relative to the plates "16 and 17. As herein shown forpurposes of illustration, the axle 21 is pivotally contained in alignedbores provided in the plates 16 and 17 and is :rigid with the wheel 12.

A load support member generally designated 22 is pivotally connected tothe wheel carriage 14. The load support 22 may be constructed in anyconventional manner and is herein shown as including a pair of spacedplates 23 and 24 disposed on the outer sides of the plates 16 and 17 ofthe wheel carriage 14. The plates 23 and 24 of the load support may bejoined together in any conventional manner such as by an angle section26 welded to each plate 23 and 24. A pivot rod 27 which passes throughboth plates 23 and 24 of the load support 22 and also through the plates16 and 17 of the wheel carriage 14 permits relative rotational movementof the load support relative to the wheel carriage. This rod 2 1 may beheld against axial movement in any conventional manner such as byproviding a cotter pin 28 on the outer side of each plate 23 and 24.

A load support rod 29 is provided for connection to the load support 22in any conventional manner. The rod 29 may be releasably connected tothe support 22 or as shown herein for purposes of illustration may berigidly connected thereto as by welding. As herein shown for purposes ofillustration, a separate support rod 29 may be connected to each plate23 and 2 4 at the free ends thereof remotely spaced from the pivot rod27. This load support rod may be of any conventional form of sufficientstrength to support the load required and is herein shown as including alongtiudinally X tending roller 31. The roller 31 may be connected tothe rod 29 in any conventional manner and is herein shown as having :abore therethrough of a diameter to permit insertion of shaft collars 32and 33. The shaft collars have set screws 34 and 36 therein which holdthe collars against movement relative to the rod 29. The collars holdthe roller 31 against axial movement and bushing portions 37 and 38 onthe collars provide a bearing upon which the rollers are permitted torevolve.

In operation, the wheel assembly 9 is rolled upto a stack of deckinguntil it reaches the position shown in FIG. 1. In this position thewheel carriage 14 is pivoted forward about the wheel axle 21 and theload support member 22 is pivoted downward about the pivot rod 27. Theother w'heel assembly 1 1 is positioned on the opposite side of the deckstack 8 as shown in FIG. 2. The length or the distance of the ends ofthe load support plates 23 and 24 from the pivot rod 27 is such that thesupport rod 29 will pass beneath the stack of decking when the rod 29 isdisposed in a horizontal position. In such a position the free end ofthe rod 29 is inserted in a socket 39 provided in the remote end of theload support plate on the wheel assembly '11.

The rod 29 may be moved to a horizontal position in any conventionalmanner and to facilitate such placement a pry bar 4 1 may be provided.As shown in FIG. 1, the bar 41 may be provided with a hook or channelsection 42 at its forward end. The hook fits under the forward portionof the angle section 26 connecting the plates 23 and 24 of the loadsupport 22. A fulcrum may also be provided on the pry bar 41 and thismay be in the form of a projection 43 spaced from the hook 42. Whenpositioned as shown in FIG. 1, the projection 43 contacts a portion ofthe wheel carriage 14. Although any portion of the support member 14 maybe used as a bearing surface for the projection 43, for convenience ofoperation an angle section 44 may be rigidly connected to the strap 18such as by welding. When the pry bar is in the posi tion as shown inFIG. 1, the workman pushes down on the remote end of the bar 41 andthereby lifts the support bar 29 up to a horizontal position by pivotingthe load support 22 about the pivot rod 27.

So as to permit operation of the subject device by one workman a chainor any type of tie down device 46 may be provided at the free end of thepry bar 41. When the support bar 29 is in the horizontal or desiredposition the chain 46 is hooked about the beam 7 to thereby hold thesupport bar in the desired position. The workman then moves to the otherside of the deck stack and inserts the free end of the support bar 29into the socket 39 of the other wheel assembly 11. At this point thesupport bar 29 is positioned beneath the deck stack and is supported andheld in this position by the two wheel assemblies 9 and 11.

With reference to FIG. 2, the workman then positions a pry bar such as47 between the pivot rod 27 of the load support member 22 and a surfaceof a wheel carriage 14. Any surface of the wheel carriage 1 4 willsuflice and to this end a rod 48 is rigidly connected to the uppersurface of the strap 19 and the pry bar 47 bears on this rod. By pushingdown on the free end of the pry bar 47 as shown in the left-hand wheelcarriage 1'1 in FIG. 2, the wheel 12 is caused to roll forward and thepivot rod 27 is raised upward. This causes the support rod 29 to belifted upward which in turn raises a portion of the stack of decking 8.A stop 49 is provided to hold the wheel carriage '14 from movementrelative to the load support 22 beyond a predetermined position. Thisstop is so positioned that it is contacted after the pivot rod 27 passesbeyond or over center with relation to the wheel axle 21. This positionis shown by the righthand Wheel assembly 9 in FIG. 2. It can be seenthat because of the relative positions of the pivot rod 27 and the axle21, and the coaction of the load support 22 with the stop 49, arelatively stable condition exists between the wheel carriage and theload support.

When both wheel assemblies have been revolved to the position shown inthe righthand side of FIG. 2, the decking stack is lifted free of thebeam '7 and the Workman can freely move the deck stacks along the rooftruss 6. To facilitate movement of the wheel assemblies, a push rod 51may be provided. The push rod may be connected to the device in anyconventional manner .and is herein shown as inserted in a bracket 52connected to the wheel assembly 11.

Although it is not intended to limit the invention to a pair of deckrollers, itmay be desirable in order to stabilize an extremely longload, to provide two spaced deck rollers as is shown in FIG. 3. Eachdeck roller would be identical in construction to that described aboveand may be connected together in any conventional manner. To this end apipe section 53 may be connected to the remote ends of the Wheelcarriage 14 in any conventional manner such as by welding. An elongatedpipe 54 is then passed through each pipe section so as to insure thatboth deck rollers travel at the same speed and maintain substantiallythe same relative position.

' Although only one embodiment of the subject invention has been hereinshown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artafter readingthis description that other modifications are possible andit is intended that all much modifications as come within a reasonableinterpretation of the appended claims be covered.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A device in combination with spaced roof trusses for lifting andtransporting roof decking resting on the spaced roof trusses comprising:a carriage; means sup porting said carriage and contacting the surfaceof the roof trusses and capable of movement along said roof trusses;load engaging means connected to said carriage for selective movementrelative thereto above and below the contact point between said supportmeans and said truss surface, said load engaging means adapted forengagement with the underside of said decking, and means for selectivemovement of said load engaging means relative to said carriage to raisethe decking from the surface of said trusses for movement therealong.

2. A device in combination with spaced roof trusses for lifting andtransporting roof decking resting on the spaced roof trusses comprising:a pair of carriages, means rotatably supporting the carriages formovement along the surface of the roof trusses; a load support pivotallyconnected to each of said carriages at a pivot point spaced from theconnection of said carriage to said means, each of said carriages andsaid load supports being relatively rotatable to first positions so asto cause said load supports to depend below said roof decking; loadengaging means connected to said load supports for selective lift ingengagement with said roof decking, each of said carriages being pivotalabout said connection to said means to a second position to cause saidpivot points to moveupward whereby said load engaging means lifts saidroof decking from said trusses; and stop means selectively engageablewith said carriages and said load supports to hold same against relativemovement when said roof decking has been lifted from said trusses.

3. The device set forth in claim 2 wherein said support means are wheelmeans.

4. The device set forth in claim 3 wherein said wheel means support saidcarriages in line with the axis of said wheels.

5. The device set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said carriages andsaid load support are members and said stop means is connected to one ofsaid members and engageable with the other of said members when saidpivot point has rotated over the center of said axis after said deckinghas been lifted from said trusses.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,5 02,309 3/1-950 Byrd 280-43111 X 2,922,534 1/ 1960 Vodraska et al 214- 2,969,9891/ 1961 Struthers -280-43.11 3,145,863 8/1964 'Dunaski 214390 3,189,3636/ 1965 Pierrat 280-35 GiERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner.

ALBERT I. MAKAY, Examiner.

1. A DEVICE IN COMBINATION WITH SPACED ROOF TRUSSES FOR LIFTING ANDTRANSPORTING ROOF DECKING RESTING ON THE SPACED ROOF TRUSSES COMPRISING:A CARRIAGE; MEANS SUPPORTING SAID CARRIAGE AND CONTACTING THE SURFACE OFTHE ROOF TRUSSES AND CAPABLE OF MOVEMENT ALONG SAID ROOF TRUSSES; LOADENGAGING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIAGE FOR SELECTIVE MOVEMENTRELATIVE THERETO ABOVE AND BELOW THE CONTACT POINT BETWEEN SAID SUPPORTMEANS AND SAID TRUSS SURFACE, SAID LOAD ENGAGING MEANS ADAPTED FORENGAGEMENT WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF SAID DECKING, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVEMOVEMENT OF SAID LOAD ENGAGING MEANS RELATIVE TO SAID CARRIAGE TO RAISETHE DECKING FROM THE SURFACE OF SAID TRUSSES FOR MOVEMENT THEREALONG.